Wireman

You all know Wireman, who has been reading beneath a palm tree for quite a while now on the homepage.

Based on an original wire model by David Macilwaine, Wireman has become symbolic of David’s solo career – and we’re very happy to have him on the site.

So happy, in fact, that we’ve got him doing a few other things for our amusement.

Just for fun, I’d like to know what you’d like to see him doing.

Just one suggestion each, please.

I’ll let you know the winning suggestion on Friday.

I shouldn’t have to say, but will: please keep your suggestion clean and decent. There are some things that Wireman cannot do, and other things that he really would not want to, even if he could.

The chatroom will be open tomorrow between 2PM and 4PM (UK). Everyone is welcome to drop in.

Before you start to ponder on future escapades for Wireman, here’s the latest from Phil, who can be heard on Planet Rocktonight, as he begins his 12-part series, ‘A is for Axe: The A-Z of the World’s Greatest Guitarists’.

Everyone can listen through a computer. If you’re in the UK, you can listen through a DAB Digital Radio, or even through your television set: channel 0110 on Sky and channel 924 on Virgin.

The hour-long show is on Sundays at 8PM (UK) and is repeated on Fridays at 6PM (UK).

Which did you prefer producing: ’50 Minutes Later’ or ‘On an Island’? (Simon J)

Two very different, but enjoyable, challenges – one of which was my own album. Go figure.

Your last two studio albums were great, but your performance of ‘6pm’ at the Strat Pack concert in Wembley made the track shine in a way the studio couldn’t. Any chance we’ll get a live CD from you anytime soon? (Ed)

Hopefully next year. On ‘A Million Reasons Why’ is my live playing from Guitar Legends, Seville – album from www.manzanera.com.

As your neighbour, does David offer thoughts about your solo work, as you have done for him? (Gus)

Sometimes.

Looking back at Roxy Music and the great music they made, which album of theirs would be a Desert Island Disc for you? (Peter)

‘For Your Pleasure’.

Author: FEd

Features Editor of David Gilmour's official blog, The Blog ('Features' previously being its rather naff title), affectionately - or lazily - shortened to 'FEd'.
View all posts by FEd

Great idea FEd about suggestions for wireman’s position. I feel I have intimate knowledge of the image if you know what I mean. It’s as if I can see through the icon it’s so transparent!

My idea would be for him to be standing but leaning backwards at 45 degrees playing a saxophone with notes coming out of the funnel part (sorry not being musician dont know what this part is called). He would be standing next to an oxygen/acetylene cylinder set up with a welding rod attached to his feet.The sparks would be flying high, intermingling with the musical notes.

Ian Pearson

PS I did sign up to chat room and can vouch how easy it is. Thanks Fed. Unfortunately due to problems my end with Java (whatever that is) I cant enter. This is my responsibilty I know and I supose it would be easier if I was on broadband. I dont really have a problem with this other than a feeling of being left out of any arrangements of meeting up in London on 6th Sept at Odeon. Hopefuly meeting up points will be posted here so I can read them. I would hate to miss out on this. Thank you.

[Ian, I guarantee that you will not miss out on any detail. Any relevant information will be posted here. However, please click your name below and then click the bright green button to check that you have the recommended version of Java installed on your computer. – Features Editor]

GAH…so…many good ideas…I’d like to see wireman waltzing in the moonlight along with wirewoman…I totally agree with you Melissa…playing Where We Start..that’s Mel’s idea…I was thinking that originally, but I see that my idea has been written already..so…anyways…Cheers!

How about Wireman David deftly maneuvering a football around by himself. And while lost in imagination, he is playing for Arsenal and nets the season’s championship game winning goal with 0.1 seconds left to go in added time.. against…Liverpool

I picture David’s usual chair there; only with a Saxaphone leaning nearby. He walks over to a window, looks out, and watches some birds fly by. He then turns around, goes back near the chair, picks up the Sax and starts playing, one leg bent with his foot up on the chair.

How about having Mr. Wireman stroll down a parade of different instruments; instruments that David used when recording “On An Island”.

As Mr. Wireman strolls down each instrument, he will pick it up and play a second or two with it. Instruments such as guitar (of course), slide guitar, cumbus, saxophone, organ, etc. It would be similar to the original script on the homepage a while back where Mr. Wireman walked down the stage and picked up the guitar and played.

[Please let me explain something to you. The ‘room password’ allows fans to return to the chatroom when it is officially closed to everyone else. This is the thinking behind our chatroom ‘lock-ins’, where a special password – which changes each time – is put in place after a scheduled chat session ends. This gives people more time to chat, as the two-hour/open-to-all slots are obviously not suitable for everyone. To get the day’s completely random ‘room password’, you need to visit the chatroom during scheduled opening hours. It will not be revealed here… for obvious reasons. Regrettably, the chatroom cannot be left open to everyone at all times. Details of all chat sessions, including opening and closing times, are shown on our calendar (please click your name below). The chatroom will be open to everyone today, between 2PM and 4PM (UK time). – Features Editor]

The first Kiwayu we stayed at a camp “Munira”, there we mapped the stars every evening as we enjoyed a clear sky with no pollution at all.

Then we went to an other island, about 1hr sailing and desert island for a robinson crusoe experience and more mapping stars and mostly between sleeps monitoring the beach for a Sea Turtle coming to nest (finally landed at 5am)

So my proposition for the Wireman would be to draw a line of a magical line linking stars to show the path that Sea Turtle would have followed for her every 3 to 4 years trip to nest on the same day in the late hours of the night her 70 to 100 eggs and that 3 to 4 times at 12 days interval…..

First of all, thanks for asking the question to Phil (My Second Question!!) I love both albums and was deliberating with a pal once about what he preferred producing. Nice answer, Phil.

Regarding Wireman, I would love to see him do a solo run with a football around a few other players, and then scoring a screamer of a goal. That could be a candidate for ‘Goal of the Season!’ Maybe he could be in a Welsh shirt whilst doing it……(Ok, now I’m dreaming!)

Well done England for destroying Wales in rugby. I didnt sleep Saturday because I was so furious. but its only a game….not!

Speak to you all soon,
Simon J

[Perhaps not quite the best time to put out a second-string team, eh? – Features Editor]

Ok. Here are the first suggestions of a “where” to meet. I went to a number of websites and took a look at what is close to the Odeon. The area seems a bit bleak for good pubs but here are 2 very close to the venue that might suit.

The Imperial
5 Leicester Street, WC2H 7BL

Moon Under Water
28 Leicester Square, WC2H 7LE

My bet is for the Imperial as it seems a bit larger but the MUW is very very close to where we want to be.

Has anyone been to either pub? If there is someone on the blog who lives in London, could you perhaps take a peek at both or make some other suggestions. I did see some nice pubs in Soho but that is a bit of a walk away.

Or…..inviting the Wireman up to the balcony of room 305 at a certain beach hotel we stay at on Naxos in the Cyclades. To the left is a view of the interior mountains with Mt. Zas the highest peak in the Cyclades. In front is Plaka beach, with the smooth blue azure Mediterranean as a backdrop. And to the right, the island of Paros on the horizon, glistening and shimmering with its 3 prerequisite fluffy clouds floating overhead.

We would crack open cold Amstels and sit watching the view with George Dalaras playing softly in the background. Perhaps at some point, the Wireman would pick up a bouzouki and play along with the music. While the rest of us sit entranced, listening to the notes floating upon the air.

I remember when at the beginning of the summer the wireman image changed on the home page and FEd mentioned that we’ll see wireman doing different things from time to time. I guess the time has now come for the change.

Anyway, it is extremely tempting to provide several suggestions but I will refrain from posting more than one. And I imagine that in tomorrow’s chat there will be a string of many silly suggestions for wireman.

I would like to see wireman fishing from an island or a boat with the island in the background while time-to-time him taking a break from fishing to play either his guitar (your choice of guitar lap or acoustic or strat). Yes you can have an electric as you can also show a portable amp.

I provide details and options in this suggestion as I do not know how much is possible in the creation of the image. But overall it is one idea. Kinda goes well with the overall Summer holiday hiatus.

My original idea was to have the Wireman climb up the palm tree and try and catch the bird or possibly use a telescope to view the great wide blue, but I have decided this is much too dangerous; just ask dear old Keith (Keef).

So, how about him having a snooze and then waking up with the sea lapping at his feet but just in time to save his beloved guitar.

Wireman gets struck by a lightening (he is a man made of wire and thus he attracts a lot of lightening), but quicky grounds himself holding that steel geetar from “smile”. I know thats not very scientifically based, but i’m looking at it from a different angle. lol

What I would not suggest is something lovey-dovey for the wireman-man.

Maybe wireman could continue with a seasonal theme to keep the image current.

In autumn he could be raking leaves under a big tree. Once a spot is cleared, he could pick up his guitar, sit against the tree and begin to play. Leaves could fall and ravens could fly overhead instead of seagulls.

[However, one suspects that the general idea is that Wireman’s antics should be more closely related to David and the symbolism of the ‘On An Island’ tour. Posted by: Luis G]

You are absolutely right Luis!..so I’ll just add an addendum to my idea about Wireman David scoring Arsenal’s game winner..

After the home crowd’s frenzied chants of DAVID..DAVID..DAVID have come to an end,he steps up a mike in the center of the field,(how it got there I don’t know), grabs his Strat, and with the band at the ready, he belts out..

“Take A Breath”

Wouldn’t that be a great idea for a song David?.Imagining we are the hero for our favourite team while just messing about..We’ve all done it and can relate.

Though I do feel unrealistic, it would be funny to have wireman shipped from irregular to irregular [gnome style] throughout the world to take experience and get on film each irregular blogger’s hometown.

Friends and I throughout the world actually did this once with a stuffed bear, and he’s been to Australia, Germany, New York City, Hawaii, you name it. The parties he has attended and monuments he’s seen has been amazing. The bear’s quite cultured.

I do realize that wireman is very fragile and important to many, so this was just a silly suggestion I don’t believe would ever be executed.

Fed: did I miss the NY bloggers meeting? I was away most of June and July due to surgery and recovery and never caught info of any such meeting. Would love to join, if it hasn’t been arranged yet.

Tara
Catskills, NY

[I’m not sure, Tara. I think you have missed it. However, there will be assorted get-togethers for the ‘Remember That Night’ cinema event. – Features Editor]

– Wireman flying a kite,
– Wireman skipping stones in a nearby pond, or,
– Wireman writing a love note, folding it into a paper plane, and tossing it towards the birds to which it becomes a flying thing not unlike a bird, but unlike a paper airplane, perhaps it turns into a star… upon which to wish…

– Wireman on a surfboard
– Wireman with a glass of wine in front of a fireplace
– Wireman with wine at fireplace, snuggling beneath a blanket with a special person
– Wireman laying beneath the stars
– Wireman sailing a boat
– Wireman playing sax
– Wireman on a hammock

Just back from a nice long bank holiday weekend all refreshed. Hope you all had a good one.

Some pretty cool suggestions for the wireman home page animation. But, being a Macromedia Flash designer (now Adobe owned), I know that the key to such things is simplicity. It’s quite a tricky thing to do and have it still look good.

So my suggestions as already mentioned by a few, would be either a saxophone or maybe wireman fishing? Or how about skipping stones along the water?

what do i think wireman should be dong now let me think ………… for inspiration i am listening to on an island and one line stood out . let me explain :

i think wireman should have a wirewoman . they should be all lined up as if they were going to be in a photograph with their wire kids . the song playing in the background would be this heaven and the line i mentioned above is life is much more then money buys . when i see the faith in my childrens eyes .

[If it were David’s Q&A, there wouldn’t be many names put forward, that’s for sure. If anyone sends in more than one question for David, they won’t be considered at all. – Features Editor]

I understand why as an opportunity like this could result in an overload of entries to be considered. Plus I imagine that there will not be too much time from the point of submitting the questions to the time of production.

But that will make it really tough to narrow down to that one question. Ever since it was announced that there will be a Q&A session I’ve been kicking around various questions in my mind. Thinking through the topics and how to word it correctly.

So with the other Q&As we had a 1 in 3 chance, here it will be a 1 shot deal. If at least we could present two potential questions with the understanding that just one may be selected that would be great.

Trust me, I’m not complaining, just kind of laying it out there and discussing if you will. I know you have your reasons and I respect that. An opportunity to even have one question considered and put forth is just awesome in itself.

So whatever it will be, it will be. I just hope that I won’t miss the window to pose the question for consideration as my travel schedule is getting a bit hectic with a week holiday scheduled as well between now and the end of August.

Looking forward to the additional details and…

Thanks for listening.

Andrew

[I understand, but it remains one-question-per-person only. You’ve already had more time to think of a question than I’ll have to sift through them all and pick out the best ones (which can only be done after deleting all the predictably unsuitable ones, and spotting individuals that try to be clever by posting under different names). Then the best ones will need recording, of course, which means lots of questions about how/where/who to record, people changing their mind and deciding that, actually, now that they’ve really thought about it, they don’t like the idea of recording themselves at all (so there will have to be some questions in reserve). Then there will be problems with the equipment used for recording, problems with sending them in on time, people wanting to re-record in a different location/shirt/accent after they’ve already sent in their original… Believe me, less is more. There will be a simple format which everyone must follow and, if people get it wrong, it’s tough. It has to be this way, otherwise the whole thing turns into a farce. – Features Editor]

How about when that bird flies overhead, at certain scheduled times, the bird can be seen to fly over to Wireman, and drop something, which turns out to be a select verse or line from a song or poem, either one of Dave’s Pink Floyd Favorites, or from a song from a solo album etc. and the lyric can be shown on the ‘paper/mag’ that Wireman is holding?

[- Wireman writing a love note, folding it into a paper plane, and tossing it towards the birds to which it becomes a flying thing not unlike a bird, but unlike a paper airplane, perhaps it turns into a star… upon which to wish… – Posted by: Marcus Buick at August 7, 2007 05:15 AM]

Lots of good suggestions but when I read this one from Buick I actually ‘saw’ it in my mind’s eye and it was perfect!

Sorry for not being original but I thought you might prefer to have a show of hands on some of the wireman activities already presented than to peruse hundreds of one-of-a-kind;-)

FEd, are you bracing yourself for the upcoming deluge of Qs and wondering what the hell you got yourself into!?! Maybe you should require the questions to be 25 words or less … just a thought.

“My” Wireman is mumbling,creating and writing wonderful music and songs for the next CD,DVD and TOUR all over the world in some delicious (not too great) auditoriums or arenas as Verona or Pompeii,in Italy or wherever the Man wishes.

In my opinion the silhouette should follow the topics of the month and all the expected events. Now we are in summer therefore this is perfect. But i’d like to see it changing , and i can image it as follows: –

– At the beginning of September the wireman is playing the guitar and, after a bow to the audience, then is sitting in a cinema, watching the premiere
– At the half of September, next to the DVD’s release, the wireman is putting the dvd into a dvd player and then sitting to watch it
– Near to next concerts and tours (!!!?) the line is changing, taking the shape of every artist playing with Mr.Gilmour, very quickly, and then is taking its original DG shape with the guitar
– The wireman is playing also steel pedal and sax, sometime
– Just once, (for a special occasion) the silhouette is speaking with the F.Ed., revealing a little about him
– For every season the background can change (at December should be a Xmas tree…and so on) but absolutely DG ‘s silhouette must have always the guitar in his hands, in every season and situation.